Break-jointed brace-rod.



PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905;

J. P. JOHNSON.

BREAK JOINTED 'BRAGE ROD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1904.

fen an er dire Jaw/m6 PJofiw/u' on,

Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT OEEicE.

JEREMIAH P. J OHNSQN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BREAIK-JOINTED BRACE-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,045, dated June 13,1905. Application filed September 2'7, 1.904. Serial E5: 226,207.

larly designed for use in the construction of collapsible carriage-tops;and the invention further consists in the peculiar construction, ashereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of thecarriage-top, illustrating the arrangement of the brace-rod in relationthereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of. a joint in the brace-rod,illustrating the brace thereof in folded position. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the joint in extended position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof,and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line w m of Fig. 4. i

In the present state of the art collapsible carriage-tops are providedwith break-jointed brace-rods extending between the several bows of theframe. One of these braces is usually located in a position where it isconcealed by the valance of the top and is therefore commonly called theconcealed joint, this term not merely designating the joint in the rod,but the entire brace-rod.

My present invention is more particularly designed for use as aconcealed joint, but may also be applicable to other uses.

As commonly constructed the brace-rods of carriage-tops are formed ofmalleable castings and as a consequence are not as strong as if madefrom wrought metal. My present construction is one in which steel orother wroughtmetal bars may be used in place of malleable castings, andthe construction is such as to secure not only increased strength, butalso to cheapen the cost of manufacture and to diminish the size.

In particular my improved construction comprises two members A and B,each of which is formed of a wrought bar, preferably of steel, of roundcross-section, the outer ends of each member being flattened and formedinto an eye surface being rounded.

at for pivotally connecting with the carriageframe. The inner oradjacent ends of these members are also flattened and are formed in diesinto the cross-section illustrated in Fig. 5, the adjacent faces 7)being flat and the outer Thus thetwo members when placed together willform a crosssection substantially round, but of greater diameter thanthe cross-section of the original bar. In forming these inner ends C ofthe members A and B the dies are so shaped as to produce theangle-shoulder D at a point where the flattened portion merges into theshank, these shoulders D having angling faces 0 and (Z, preferablysubstantially at right angles to each other, the former providingclearance to permit of the folding of the rod and the latter forming anabutment for holding the rod straight in bracing position. The members Care perforated for the passage of the rivet E, which connects the twosections of the rod together, and the end of each section (J is angledat f, so as to bear against the face (Z of the shoulder D.

The construction just described is one which is exceedingly simple toproduce, the ends C, including the shoulder D, being formed by a singlestamping operation of the dies. When riveted together, the two membersmay be either folded or straightened, and in the straightened positionthe beveled end f will abut against the face (Z, as shown in Fig. 4, soas to prevent further movement of the sections, the adjustment beingpreferably such as to slightly pass beyond the center, so that anystrain upon the rod will tend to fold it into extended position ratherthan to collapse it. At the same time the members may be folded at anytime by a suflicient lateral movement of the break-joint.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A break-jointed brace-rod comprisingtwo members formed of wrought metallic bars of rounded cross-section,the adjacent ends of said members being flattened to form parallel facesand projecting shoulders at the point of merging into the roundedsection, a pivot engaging central apertures in said flattened portionsand securing the same together, the ends of said flattened portionsbeing fashioned to I00 abut against the shoulder of the opposite memherin the extended position of the members.

2. A breakjointed brace-rod comprising tWo members, each formed of aWrought metallic bar of rounded cross-section, the inner ends of saidmembers being flattened to form parallel faces extending longitudinallyof the members and beveled shoulders at the point of merger into theshank, the ends of said fiattened portions being also beveled, and a pinengaging central apertures in said flattened portions connecting thesame together, where by When said brace is extended the beveled end ofone member Will engage With the beveled shoulder of the oppositememberto prevent further movement.

3. A break -jointed brace-rod comprising two members each formed of ametallic bar of rounded cross-section, the inner ends of said membersbeing flattened to form parallel longitudinal faces and double anglingshoulders at the point of merger into the rounded crosssection, and apivot-pin connecting said members to each other and engaging centralapertures therein, the ends of said flattened portions being beveled toabut against one of said angling faces in the extended position of themembers, the opposite angling face permitting of the further folding ofthe members.

i. A break-jointed brace-rod comprising two members, each formed of aWrought metallic bar of rounded cross-section the adjacent ends of saidmembers being flattened to form parallel longitudinal faces and theshoulders D having the oppositely-beveled faces 0 and cl, the end ofeach flattened portion being beveled as at f and a pivot-pin connectingsaid members and engaging central apertures therein and so arranged thatin the extended position of the members, the beveled end f will abutagainst the beveled faces (I.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JEREMIAH P. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

JAs. P. BARRY, En. D. AULT.

